Device for transporting cans

Abstract

The can transporting device transports the cans by using rails which are driven synchronously by crank drives. In one embodiment, the cans rest on a floorplate while the rails are moved so as to transport the cans in a forward step-wise manner along the floorplate. In non-linear arrangements, straight rails are jointed to each other by curved rails. In this embodiment, an additional crank drive is provided to support the outer curved rail for vertical movement. The transport direction of the cans can be selected through selection of the direction of rotation of a gear motor which drives the transmission for the crank drives.

We claim: 
     
       1. A can transporting device comprising a vertical can guide system having a pair of vertical boards for guiding a can horizontally therebetween in a non-linear transport direction;   a horizontal guide plate between said boards for supporting the can thereon; and   a can feed means for moving the can in a horizontal step-wise manner along said guide plate and between said boards, said can feed means including two pairs of straight rails between said boards, each said pair of rails being connected to each other in parallel relation and in angular relation to the other pair of rails, a pair of curved rails interconnecting said pairs of straight rails, and means for simultaneously moving said straight and curved rails through an endless path with the can supported on said rails during a forward movement of said rails in said path and with said rails spaced below said guide plate during a rearward movement of said rails in said path.   
     
     
       2. A can transport device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said moving means includes a pair of double crank drives connected to one of said pairs of straight rails in horizontally spaced apart relation, each drive having a pair of oppositely disposed crank pins, each said pin being connected to a respective rail of said one pair of straight rails. 
     
     
       3. A can transport device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said moving means is connected to an outermost curved rail for raising and lowering said outermost curved rail. 
     
     
       4. A can transport device as set forth in claim 2 wherein each crank drive is a drivable chain drive. 
     
     
       5. A device for transporting fiber sliver cans comprising a horizontal guide plate defining a non-linear path; and   a can feed means for moving a can in step-wise manner along said guide plate, said feed means including two pairs of parallel coplanar rails disposed in angular relation to each other, a pair of curved rails interconnecting said pairs of parallel rails, and means for simultaneously moving said parallel and curved rails through an endless path relative to said guide plate with a can supported on two of said rails during a forward movement of said rails above said guide plate and with said rails below said guide plate during a rearward movement of said rails.   
     
     
       6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said feed means includes a pair of synchronously driven crank drives, each crank drive including a crank pin connected to a respective pair of parallel rails for driving said respective rails in said endless path thereof. 
     
     
       7. A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein an outer curved rail is supported on a crank pin of one of said crank drives. 
     
     
       8. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said feed means includes a crank drive for driving each rail of each respective pairs of parallel rails, each crank drive including a pair of chainwheels, a chain disposed about said chainwheels and a crankpin carried on said chain and secured to a respective rail of said pairs of parallel rails.